Woke up at 6:15 after sleeping poorly. The sun is shining and it continued to do so all day. Temperatures were 15-18 and a light breeze. Tomorrow is moving day so I packed up some clothes in a bag and will drop them off at the new place #108 Chichester Rd after work so I don’t have so much to take tomorrow. My job today is to work on the beds on either side of the Laburnum Arch, down past the West Gardens. It requires edging and weeding and the latter has to be done all by hand because of many plants called Cyclamin which are tender and easily disturbed. It took a little longer but there wasn’t an excess of weed. Ivy is also growing on the arch and it needed trimming as well. I also removed several plants called Spanish Bluebells. They are beautiful but because they are mixing with the English Bluebell, they are considered a threat to the native species. A couple of volunteers were also removing Primroses that were any colour other than yellow, from fields and any area in the gardens that they grow for the same reason.
Now let me tell you about the daffodils. They were also in the beds and were planted there last year. They were yellow and beautiful but Jim (Head Gardener) thought they weren’t right for these beds. So I was to lift them out, lay them in the paths to dry and give them away. Those were the exact words. Jim had already cut an armful of the lovely flowers and then as an afterthought, said he would keep them for cut flowers. I interpreted that to mean the flowers that were on the bulbs after I lifted them. What he meant of course was that he would save the bulbs, replant them someplace else in the fall and use the flowers next year for cut flowers. In my wisdom, or lack thereof, I lifted the bulbs and then offered some to the general public as I went along. One couple took me up on them and took about 15. Others said no thanks or in the case of two artists who were using the gardens as inspiration they said they would each take some, but they were still here the next morning. When I told Jim about giving the bulbs away, he said “What?” in his typical English manner. He then went on to say, with a laugh in his voice that he had intended to use them for cut flowers and if he was going to give them away it would have been to the staff not just anyone who walked through the gardens. It was quite humorous. Fortunately I still had lots to lift the next day and some folks didn’t take them so they still have lots for cut flowers next year.
I had planned to go to the Rotary Club meeting in Chichester but in checking it out discovered they meet on Wednesday evenings not Tuesdays so I won’t be going this week. I decide however to take the bus to Chichester anyway for a meal and check my email. Wouldn’t you know it, I missed it by 5 minutes, but it was only 25 minutes more for the next one. I went to the Dolphin and Anchor and was able to connect to their WIFI for free. I ordered the Grill combination which included lamb cutlets, pork chop, rump steak (on the menu they say it is their most popular but is indeed the toughest piece of meat I have ever eaten), ham, sausage, a salad and fries plus a glass of Guinness all for 5.99 pounds. This is their special on Tuesdays and is the best price I have ever seen. I was early for the bus home so went to Tesco’s and bought a couple of bags of liquorice allsorts for only 67p. Home by 9:00 organized for tomorrow and off to bed at 10.
Now let me tell you about the daffodils. They were also in the beds and were planted there last year. They were yellow and beautiful but Jim (Head Gardener) thought they weren’t right for these beds. So I was to lift them out, lay them in the paths to dry and give them away. Those were the exact words. Jim had already cut an armful of the lovely flowers and then as an afterthought, said he would keep them for cut flowers. I interpreted that to mean the flowers that were on the bulbs after I lifted them. What he meant of course was that he would save the bulbs, replant them someplace else in the fall and use the flowers next year for cut flowers. In my wisdom, or lack thereof, I lifted the bulbs and then offered some to the general public as I went along. One couple took me up on them and took about 15. Others said no thanks or in the case of two artists who were using the gardens as inspiration they said they would each take some, but they were still here the next morning. When I told Jim about giving the bulbs away, he said “What?” in his typical English manner. He then went on to say, with a laugh in his voice that he had intended to use them for cut flowers and if he was going to give them away it would have been to the staff not just anyone who walked through the gardens. It was quite humorous. Fortunately I still had lots to lift the next day and some folks didn’t take them so they still have lots for cut flowers next year.
I had planned to go to the Rotary Club meeting in Chichester but in checking it out discovered they meet on Wednesday evenings not Tuesdays so I won’t be going this week. I decide however to take the bus to Chichester anyway for a meal and check my email. Wouldn’t you know it, I missed it by 5 minutes, but it was only 25 minutes more for the next one. I went to the Dolphin and Anchor and was able to connect to their WIFI for free. I ordered the Grill combination which included lamb cutlets, pork chop, rump steak (on the menu they say it is their most popular but is indeed the toughest piece of meat I have ever eaten), ham, sausage, a salad and fries plus a glass of Guinness all for 5.99 pounds. This is their special on Tuesdays and is the best price I have ever seen. I was early for the bus home so went to Tesco’s and bought a couple of bags of liquorice allsorts for only 67p. Home by 9:00 organized for tomorrow and off to bed at 10.
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